NATCHITOCHES – Two-time All-America linebacker Derek Rose, along with Northwestern State classmate Jamaal White, earned All-Southland Conference honors for the third straight year as the league announced its 2012 football all-league team Tuesday.

Rose was the Demons’ only first-team selection after leading NSU with 103 tackles and finishing his career with 341. White joined two other Northwestern seniors, fellow safety Cortez Paige and kicker John Shaughnessy, as second-team selections in voting by the Southland’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Seven other Demons received honorable mention recognition: junior linebacker Patrick Black, junior defensive tackle Lesley Deamer, senior receiver and return specialist Phillip Harvey, junior receiver Louis Hollier, junior center Warren Jones, sophomore tight end Corey Simmons and senior defensive end Wade Williams. Harvey was honored as an all-purpose player on offense as well as in his capacity as a kickoff returner, where he finished fourth all-time in Southland Conference history and as the NSU record-holder with 2,071 yards on 88 runbacks, a 23.5 average.

Rose, a 5-11, 229-pounder from New Orleans, could become only the second three-time All-American in school history as those honors begin being issued shortly.

White, a 6-0, 192-pounder out of Garland, Texas, who was listed among the top 10 defensive backs in the FCS ranks at the outset of the season, had three interceptions to raise his career total to 10. He made 69 tackles, third on the NSU team.

Paige, a 6-1, 181-pound Houston product also picked off three passes and he posted 49 tackles.

Shaughnessy, also an Academic All-America finalist, drilled 14 of 17 field goals to finish 28 of his last 33 in his final two seasons. The Shreveport-Byrd product’s precision kickoffs helped the Demons limit foes to 18.9 yards per return.

Black, a junior in his first year as a starter, stacked up a career-high 17 tackles in the season finale at Stephen F. Austin to finish with 90 stops. Deamer, a second-team All-SLC pick last season, posted 42 tackles while fighting double teams frequently all season long.

Hollier, a Lafayette-Acadiana product, led NSU with 28 receptions and 384 receiving yards. Harvey was close behind with 23 catches for 314 yards although he missed nearly four games with a knee injury, and he ran for another 108 while posting 703 return yards. He ranked 11th nationally in all-purpose yards per game when he was injured and topped the Southland.

Williams, second-team All-SLC as a sophomore, had 159 career tackles as a three-year starter. Simmons, a transfer from South Carolina, grabbed 20 passes for 186 yards and a team-best three touchdowns. Jones, a transfer from East Mississippi Community College, proved to be the Demons’ most reliable offensive lineman in his first season at NSU.

Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders repeated as the Southland Player of the Year while Central Arkansas quarterback Wynrick Smothers was the Offensive Player of the Year. Sam Houston linebacker Darnell Taylor was a repeat pick as Defensive Player of the Year, and UCA’s Clint Conque was voted Coach of the Year.

Lamar receiver and kick returner Kevin Johnson won the Newcomer of the Year award while UCA defensive end Jonathan Woodard took Freshman of the Year honors. Corey Howard of UCA was voted Offensive Lineman of the Year.

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